Full Travers Field Awaits Exaggerator

Exaggerator has his work cut out for him.

Fourteen—the largest field since 1977—entered for the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course, and the winner of the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) and Betfair.com Haskell Invitational (gr. I) breaks in the thick of it Aug. 27 from post 7.

Exaggerator looks to become the first horse since Point Given in 2001 to win the Preakness, Haskell, and Travers. The Curlin   colt is the 3-1 favorite on the morning line for the 1 1/4-mile Travers off his 1 1/2-length Haskell victory in the Monmouth Park slop. Another son of Curlin, Paul Pompa Jr.'s Connect, is the 4-1 second choice on the merit of a three-race win streak capped by his score in Saratoga's July 29 Curlin Stakes.  

Regular rider Kent Desormeaux will be in the irons aboard Exaggerator for trainer Keith Desormeaux and the ownership group of Big Chief Racing, Head of Plains Partners, and Rocker O Ranch.

Connect drew post 10 under John Velazquez for trainer Chad Brown, who also will saddle Curlin Stakes second Gift Box (12-1) and grade I-placed My Man Sam (20-1).

West Coast trainer Bob Baffert sends two for the Midsummer Derby; Gary and Mary West's Haskell runner-up American Freedom (6-1) and Juddmonte's Arrogate (10-1), another who comes in off a trio of victories and makes the jump to grade I company in his stakes debut. Also exiting the Haskell is dual grade II winner Gun Runner (15-1), who was fifth in that start after winning the Matt Winn Stakes (gr. III) following his third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Gun Runner breezed four furlongs Aug. 23 in :50.03 over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga gearing up for the Travers for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Four enter after running in the July 30 Jim Dandy (gr. II) at Saratoga last out; upset victor Laoban (15-1), runner-up Governor Malibu, third-place finisher  Destin (10-1), who was second in the June 11 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (gr. I), and Belmont winner Creator (15-1), who ran last of six in the Jim Dandy for Asmussen.

Longshots Forever d'Oro (30-1), Anaximandros (50-1), and Majesto (30-1) complete the field.

Gates open at 7 a.m. EDT on Travers Day, with a special first post time of 11:35 a.m. The Travers is scheduled with an approximate post time of 5:44 p.m. as race 11 on a card of 13, and will be broadcast live on NBC beginning at 4:30 p.m. Five other grade I events are featured throughout the afternoon, and undefeated Lady Eli returns in her victory over laminits with a run in the $400,000 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa (gr. IIT). 

Travers Day attendance, as previously announced, will be capped at 50,000. Limited grandstand general admission ($10) is still available with a limit of eight per person. Clubhouse general admission, reserved seats, and dining and hospitality are sold out.